Evergreen harness racing pacer Alta Orlando (Courage Under Fire) continues to race with great zest despite his age.
The 11-year-old former Kiwi has mixed it with some of the best pacers from the start of his career back in 2014 and boasts impressive statistics with 22 wins and $1.12 million in stakes, including a Group 1 victory in the 2020 Schweppes Sprint and multiple listed race victories right throughout Australasia.
Currently, the gelding is enjoying life at Cobbitty under the care of Sydney’s leading trainer Belinda McCarthy and last Saturday night accounted for a strong field of free-for-all pacers at Tabcorp Park Menangle, storming home over the top of his more fancied stablemate Expensive Ego to win by a bare margin.
This afternoon, Alta Orlando heads to Goulburn where he will contest the Frank and Edna Day Goulburn Soldiers Club Goulburn Cup, a $30,000 feature on a solid TAB Carnival Of Cups program.
Drawn the widest in a seven-horse field, Alta Orlando will need to be at his best to win the Cup and comes up against three runners from the powerful Jason Grimson stable.
Grimson’s stable star Majestic Cruiser is making his return from a four-month spell but did impress in winning a trial at Menangle on May 3 and followed that with a cosy trial run a week later.
Jack Callaghan, who has had a successful affiliation with Alta Orlando, has been engaged for the drive this afternoon and is looking forward to contesting the Cup.
“He is a really cool horse that has had a great career,” said Callaghan.
“His longevity is a testament not only him, but to the team at Cobbitty who keep him happy and healthy, enabling him to race week in and week out.”
“Although he is racing well, today’s race is not the easiest of races by any stretch as a few horses drawn to our inside will be hard to beat.
“But I am confident that Alta Orlando will give his best and be thereabouts at the right end.”
Team McCarthy will be represented by Sweetheart Bart in another of the feature races this afternoon, the TAB Goulburn Rose.
Like his stablemate, the recent APG Bullion winner will have to overcome a wide draw, but he does give young Callaghan the chance of a race-to-race double.
For complete race entries, click here.
by Michael Dumesny, for HRNSW